The fourth-largest Powerball jackpot-winning lottery ticket was sold late last week in Oregon. The lottery operator announced the win in a statement on Sunday, April 7.
The $1.36 billion prize also ranks as the eighth-biggest U.S lottery win.
Costing just $2 for an entry, one winner defied astronomical odds with the correct pick of five numbers and the Powerball. They were 22, 27, 44, 52, 69, and red Powerball 9.
The winning ticket-holder has yet to come forward and claim their prize. However, under Oregon lottery regulations, they will not be able to remain completely anonymous.
The jackpot ends a streak of three months without anyone claiming the top Powerball jackpot.
“I want to congratulate the winner on this life changing moment. No one in Oregon has ever won a prize on this scale, and it’s very exciting for our staff and players,” said Mike Wells, director of the Oregon lottery.
“Even if you aren’t holding the winning ticket, all of our players support programs and services statewide that receive Lottery dollars.”
The Win
The winning ticket was bought in Portland, Oregon. The lucky player will actually receive much less than the headlined $1.3 billion.
They can either choose to take it in 29 yearly installments, or as a lump sum of $621 million.
Whatever they choose, the state of Oregon also takes 9% from any lottery wins as tax.
The announcement of the win came amid heightened interest in the lottery due to record jackpots across the U.S.
However, the week’s Powerball draw was delayed by several hours.
An error in one state led to the Saturday 11 p.m. draw actually taking place at 2:30 a.m. on Sunday.
Lottery Fever
Powerball and MegaMillions are the most popular U.S. lotteries. They offer games in 45 states.
The recent lean streak of jackpot winners has seen increased attention on the games, with jackpot prizes in both hitting over $1 billion. Recently in Illinois, $13 million in winning tickets were sold within a 20-mile area of suburban Chicago.
The previous biggest lottery win in Oregon was $340 million in 2005. This latest win eclipses that, and also comes in at number eight of the top ten largest gambling wins in the U.S.
The largest U.S. lottery win was a Powerball jackpot in California in early 2023. Edwin Castro bagged the $2.04 billion top prize. He has since spent significant sums on several luxury California homes, and a series of vintage sports cars.
David is an online casino expert who specializes in online slots and boasts over 10 years experience writing about iGaming. He has written for a wide range of notable publications, including eSports Insider and WordPlay Magazine.
David graduated Derby University with a BA Degree in English Literature and Creative Writing.
